Venetian blind bottom rail and clip construction



R. P. MOYER Dec. V24, 1957 VENETIAN BLIND BOTTOM RAIL AND CLIP CONSTRUCTION ROBE/arp, Moy/5R United States .l i ate VENET IAN BLIND BOTTOM RAIL AND CLIP CONSTRUCTION Robert P. Moyer, Sturgis, Mich., assigner to Kirsch Cornpany, Sturgis, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 13, 1955, Serial No. 534,048

12 Claims. (Cl. 160177) This invention relates to Venetian blinds and particularly to Venetian blind bottom rail constructions. Heretofore, in the Venetian blind industry various methods and devices have been employed in connection with the securing of Venetian blind ladder tapes to the bottom rails of the slat system, both in all wood blinds and in all metal blinds. There have been numerous sizes and shapes of bottom rails and fastening means including clips of numerous shapes and sizes and special attaching means requiring perforations of the bottom rails and the use of special tools for installation.

Substantially all of these prior art methods and devices have been subject to one criticism or another. They are either complicated and expensive and many times require special tools for preparing the rails and for securing the tapes, or they may be unsightly or bulbous, depriving the blind of clean, smooth lines which are much in demand.

Furthermore, heretofore, in Venetian blinds, considerable diiliculty has been encountered in getting complete adequate closure of the lower slats of the blind. ln substantially all of the prior art blinds, the bottom rail does not swing to the tight, closed position which is generally found in the upper slats of the slat system, when they are in the closed position, and the bottom rail has a tendency to hold the ladder tapes at the bottom of the blind su'lciently far apart so that the lower slats do not come to a completely closed position and thus perniitV leakage of light.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a bottom rail construction for Venetian blinds which overcomes the above mentioned difliculties and solves the problems which had not been solved in prior art 1blinds.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottom rail construction in which there are simple and positive means for attaching the ladder tape to a metallic bottom rail. Another object is to provide such a construction in which the proper assembly of the blind and the proper positioning of the ladder tapes with reference to the bottom rail, may be easily achieved, both in manufacturing operations and in blind servicing and ladder tape replacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottom rail construction which is simple and inexpensive and which isparticularly well adapted to the use of an open channelled bottom rail with a blind slat forming the upper surface or cover therefor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction which can be assembled without tools, merely by snapping the parts together by hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction in which any conventional open channelled bottom rail may be used without preparation, such as notching or perforating, merely by cutting the rail to length.

Another object of the invention is to provide a blind Slat system in which the Ilowest Slat will be given a more nearly complete closure than in the case of the conventional, or prior art blind.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a construction in which the positive closure of the lowest slat of the system is achieved in a simple, effective and inexpensive manner.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of the invention.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there are shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred since they give desirable and satisfactory results. It will be understood, however, that the parts may be altered or modified without necessarily departing from the invention and that the invention is not limited to the specific form and arrangement of the parts herein shown and described.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a portion of a Venetian blind incorporating the invention with the parts disasseml bled to show their relationship to one another;

Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view of the bottom portion of a blind embodying the invention showing the action on vclosing of the blind slat system;

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view through the bottom rail showing how the parts are assembled;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of one end of the tape clip showing its conformation and the interengaging members thereon which cooperate with complementary members on the bottom rail clip;

Fig. 5 is a similar View of the bottom rail clip and Fig. 6 is a partial view of another form of the invention in which a compound lift is employed for the blind.

In the Venetian blind shown in the drawing the slat system comprises in part the ladder tapes 1, the slats 2, which are here shown as sheet metal slats and which are routed at 3 to provide passage for the left cord 4.

The bottom rail 5 is a sheet metal ope-n top channelled strip which is of a form which is easy to roll to shape and to cut oif to length. It consists of vertical sides 6, a bottom 7 which is here shown as formed of three `panels and inwardly extending top flanges S. As a coverfor the open channel thereis provided a slat 9 which is identical in form with the other slats of the blind. Utilizing this slat as the cover for the bottom rail, gives a more uniform appearance to the entire slat system and is most economical since no special separate cover is required for the bottom rail.

A cap 10, which ts over the end of the bottom rail and the end of the slat 9 to hold it in position is provided. This is generally formed of molded plastic material.

In the preferred form of the invention there is provided a bottom rail clip' 11 which is preferably formed of sheet metal. It may be formed most economically as a stamping. It consists of a central plate 12 which is of a length which is equal to the width of the bottom rail 5 and which overlies the bottom rail and the covering slat 9 therefor, From each end of the plate 12 there depends an integral bottom rail embracing arm 13 which extends substantially at right angles to the plate 12. Each of the arms 13 is of a length substantially equal` to the height of the side panel 6 of the bottom rail 5. Each terminates in a straight end which is provided with an inturned flange i4 which engages under the side 6 as is best seen in Fig. 3.

The free end of the arm 13 is also provided with outwardly turned anges l5 which form interengaging members to cooperate with opposed members on the tapeV clip which will be described later.

A sheet metal tape clip 16 is also provided. It con sists of a central body 17 which is substantially c oextensive in length and width with the plate 12 of the bottom `rail clip. It has `depending arms 18 integrally formed at its ends. They are of a length slightly greater than the length of the arms 13 of the bottom rail clip and when the clips are assembled overlie these arms as is well illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

The arms 18 of the tape clip terminate in inturned anges 19 which cooperate with, and, when the clips are assembled, underlie the outturned flanges on the arms 13 of the clip 11.

The clips 11 and 16 serve both to secure the bottom rail in position and to secure the ladder tapes to the bottomvrail. This is done by folding the ends of the ladder tapes inwardlyas is indicated at 20 in Fig. l. These overlie the outer sides of the arms 18V of the tape clip 16 and are. snubbedaround theends thereof. The clips 11 and 16 are then forced together and thel ends of the ladder tapes areisecured as is well shown in Fig. 3, with the free ends lying between the arms 13 and 18 of the clips while the fabric of the tapes at the fold is engaged between flanges 15 and 19.

The clips and the bottom rail being all formed of sheet metal are resilient and the combined resiliency of the clips and the bottom railpermits the assembly of the parts by merely clipping them together without the use lof tools. The bottom rail is thus securely held in position and the tapes are secured to it by a very simple operation. This is most helpful in assembling the ladder tapes onthe blinds initially and during replacement because the ends Vof the ladder tapes may be folded lto exact length and secured between the clips, an operation which permits more accurate measurement than is possible and with less effort than is the case when the ladder tapes are secured to a bottom rail instead of the small clips.

The lift cord 4 is secured to the clips in a simple easy fashion. The clip 16 is apertured at 21 for the passage of the lift cord. The clip 11 isfapertured at 22 for this purpose. The slat cover 9is a routed aperture 23 through which the cord passes. The cord is knotted at 24 after a retaining washer 25 has been positioned on it and the clips may then be knotted on it. After this has been done the clips may be clipped tighter and the bottom rail may be clipped in the clip 11.

In the form of invention shown inFig. 6, provision is made for a compound lift. A pulley 26 comprising a U-shaped hanger providedwith a pulley 27 mounted on anaxle 28is provided. The housing hasupstanding arms 29 which terminate in edges adapted to engage the bottomof clip 11.and in .narrow hooks 30 the shanks of which t into notches 31 which are provided in the aperture 22 of the clip 11 while the hooks overlie and engage the .upper surface of the clip. `11. This hanger may be snapped into place' in the clip- 11 Without the use of tools'. and. thus the clip 11 may be used either as a'simple orras a compound lift member.

In order .to provide` for the tight closing of the bottom slat of the. blind, lugs 32 are yformed of the sheet metal at the yedgesof the plate 12 ofthe clip 11. These lugs extend vertically above the top of the clip and the top of'the bottom rail. They are :positioned centrally of the width ofthe bottom'rail and extend up so as to contact the bottom slat which is shown in Fig. 2 as 33, at a point between its side edges, when the slat system is moved toward the closed position, as indicated in Fig. 2 where the .tilting of the slat system to closed position has been nearly completed. The lug 32, engaging the slat 33, tends to force :the slat farthertoward closed position than the closed position of the bottom rail, and the slat pivots around its edge 34 which is in engagement with the ladderltape :as indicated in Fig. 2, until contact with the next adjacent slat 'is established. This contact with the next adjacent slat will also tendto swing said second slatto a more completely closed position than would be` the'case if .the lug .32l were not provided.

This is significant because, generally speaking, in .con-

ventional Venetian blinds the bottom rails tend to hang away from vertical alignment when the slat system is tilted for slat closing. The bottom rail tends to separate the ladder tapes at the bottom, interfering with complete closing. This results in having the bottom slats of the blind slightly open permitting light leakage. However, when the lug 32 is employed, this is obviated.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other speciiic forms without departing from the spirit or essential purpese thereof. It is, therefore, desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to ndicate the scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. In a Venetian blind having a blind slat system comprising slats, ladder tapes and a bottom rail, acombined bottom rail anchor and ladder tape attached clip having means for engaging and holding bottom ends of a. ladder tape and for engaging and holding the bottom rail and having a lug positioned centrally of said bottom rail and projecting vertically above the top thereof into position to engage the bottom slat of the blind at a point spaced from its edges and from the top of said bottom rail when the blind slat system is tilted to closing position, whereby said lug engages and forces the bottom slat to a position of tighter closure than the bottom rail, thereby minimizing light leakage.

2. In a Venetian blind having a blind slat system comprising slats, ladder tapes and a bottom rail, a bottom rail having a lug positioned centrally of said bottom rail and projecting vertically above the top thereof into position to engage the bottom slat of the blind at a point spaced from its edges and from the top of said bottom rail when the blind slat system is tilted to closing position, whereby said lug engages and forces the bottom slat to a position of tighter closure than the bottom rail, thereby minimizing light leakage.

3. In a Venetian blind having a slat system comprising slats, ladder tapes and a bottom rail, the combination of an open top sheet metal channelled bottom rail having vertical side edges and adapted to have its top closed by an overlying slat identical with the slats of the slat system, a sheet metal rail anchor clip for said bottom rail comprising a central plate of a length equal to the width of said bottom rail overlying said rail, said plate havingextending downwardly therefrom substantially at right angles thereto, integral rail embracing arms, each of a length substantially equal to the height of the side edges of said rail and terminating in a straight edge having an outturned flange portion and an inturned ange portion adapted'to engage said rail and a sheet metal tape clip comprising a central body substantially coextensive in length with the plate of'said rail anchor clip overlying said plate ofv said rail anchor clip and having extending downwardly from the ends thereof integral embracing arms of a length slightly greater than the length of the arms of said lrail anchor clip overlying and embracing said arms of said rail anchor clip and each terminating in a free straight edge having inturned ange portions adapted and positioned to engage under the outturned ange portions of said arms of said rail anchor clip to form tape gripping means, and a ladder tape having its ends overlying the arms to said tape clip and snubbed around the free ends thereof and clamped between the arms of the rail anchor clip and the tape clip and their anges, said clip and bottom rail having a combined resiliency whereby they may be snapped into and retained in assembled position.

4. In a Venetian blind having a slat system comprising slats, ladder tapes and a bottom rail, the combination of a'bottom rail having vertical side edges, a rail anchor clip for said bottom rail comprising a central plate of a length equal to the width of said bottom railoverlying said rail, said `plate havingA extending downwardly `therefrom 1sub` astiene stantially at right angles thereto, rail embracing arms, each of a length substantially equal to the height of the side edges of said rail and terminating in a straight edge having an outturned ange portion and an inturned ilange portion adapted to engage said rail and a tape clip comprising a central body substantially coextensive in length with the plate of said rail anchor clip overlying said plate of said rail anchor clip, and having extending downwardly from the ends thereof embracing arms of a length slightly greater than the length of the arms of said rail anchor clip overlying and embracing said arms of said rail anchor clip, and each terminating in a free straight edge having inturned flange portions adapted and positioned to engage under the outturned ange portions of said arms of said rail anchor clip to form tape gripping means, and a ladder tapehaving its ends overlying the arms to said tape clip and snubbed around the free ends thereof and clamped between the arms of the rail anchor clip and the tape clip and their flanges.

5. In a Venetian blind having a slat system comprising slats, ladder tapes and a bottom rail, the combination of a bottom rail having vertical side edges, a rail anchor clip for said bottom rail comprising a central plate of a length equal to the width of said bottom rail overlying said rail, said plate having extending downwardly therefrom substantially at right angles thereto, rail embracing arms, each of a length substantially equal to the height of the side edges of said rail and terminating in a straight edge having an outturned ange portion and an inturned flange portion adapted to engage said rail and a tape clip comprising a central body substantially coextensive in length with the plate of said rail anchor clip overlying said plate of said rail anchor clip, and having extending downwardly from the ends thereof embracing arms of a length slightly greater than the length of the arms of said rail anchor clip overlying and embracing said arms of said rail anchor clip, and each terminating in a free straight edge having inturned flange portions adapted and positioned to engage under the outturned flange portions of said arms of said rail anchor clip to form tape gripping means, and a ladder tape having its ends overlying the arms to said tape clip and snubbed around the free ends thereof and clamped between the arms of the rail anchor clip and the tape clip and their flanges, one of said clips of said pair of clips, having thereon centrally disposed vertically projecting means extending above said clips and said bottom rail whereby when said slat system is moved to slat closing position, said projecting means will engage the bottom slat at a point between its side edges to, in cooperation with the ladder tape, move it to a closed position more extreme than that of the bottom rail to minimize light leakage.

6. In a Venetian blind having a slat system comprising slats, ladder tapes and a bottom rail, the combination of an open top sheet metal channelled bottom rail having vertlcal side edges and adapted to have its top closed by an overlying slat identical with the slats of the slat system, a sheet metal rail anchor clip for said bottom rail comprising a central plate of a length equal to the width of said bottom rail overlying said rail, said plate having extending downwardly therefrom substantially at right angles thereto, integral rail embracing arms, each of a length substantially equal to the height of the side edges of said rail and terminating in a straight edge having an outturned flange portion and an inturned ange portion adapted to engage said rail and a sheet metal tape clip comprising a central body substantially coextensive in length with the plate of said rail anchor clip overlying said plate of said rail anchor clip and having extending downwardly from the ends thereof integral embracing arms of a length slightly greater than the length of the arms of said rail anchor clip overlying and embracing said arms of said rail anchor clip and each terminating in a free straight edge having inturned ilange portions adapted and positioned to engage under the outturned 'mge portions of said arms of said rail anchor clip to form tape grippingmeans, and a ladder tape having its ends overlying the arms to said tape clip and lsnubbed around the free ends thereof and clamped between the arms of the rail anchor clip and the tape clip and their anges, said clip and bottom rail having a combined resiliency whereby they may be snapped into and retained in assembled position, said bottom rail clip having a central lift cord passage having notches in opposite sides thereof to receive a compound lift cord pulley housing and a compound lift cord pulley housing comprising sheet metal bent to form a base and sides extending upwardly therefrom adapted to abut the down surface of said bottom rail clip and having upwardly projecting hooks having shanks adapted to t in the notches in said lift cord passage with the hooks overlying the bottom rail clip and anchoring said pulley housing in place, said tape clip also having a central lift cord passage.

7. In a Venetian blind having a slat system comprising slats, ladder tapes and a bottom rail, the: combination of a bottom rail having vertical side edges, a rail anchor clip for said bottom rail comprising a central plate of a length equal to the width of said bottom rail overlying said rail, said plate having extending downwardly therefrom substantially at right angles thereto, rail embracing arms, each of a length substantially equal to the height of the side edges of said rail and terminating in a straight edge having an outturned flange portion and an inturned flange portion adapted to engage said rail and a tape clip comprising a central body substantially co-extensive in length with the plate of said rail anchor clip overlying said plate of said rail anchor clip, and having extending downwardly from the ends thereof embracing arms of a length slightly greater than the length of the arms of said rail anchor clip overlying and embracing said arms of said rail anchor clip, and each terminating 4in a .free straight edge having inturned flange portions adapted and positioned to engage under the outturned flange portions of said arms of said rail anchor clip to form tape gripping means, and a ladder tape having its ends overlying the arms to said tape clip and snubbed around the free ends thereof and clamped between the arms of the rail anchor clip and the tape clip and their flanges, said bottom rail clip having a central lift cord passage having notches in opposite sides thereof to receive a compound lift cord pulley housing and a compound lift cord pulley housing comprising sheet metal bent to form a. base and sides extending upwardly therefrom adapted to abut the down surface of said bottom rail clip and having upwardly projecting hooks having shanlzs adapted to fit in the notches in said lift cord passage with the hooks overlying the bottom rail clip and anchoring said pulley housing in place, said tape clip also having a central lift cord passage.

8. In a Venetian blind having a slat system comprising slats, ladder tapes and a bottom rail, the combination of a bottom rail, a rail anchor clip for said bottom rail comprising a central plate of a length equal to the width of said bottom rail overlying said rail, said plate having extending downwardly therefrom, rail embracing arms for gripping and retaining a rail in said clip and a tape clip comprising a central body substantially co-extensive in length with the plate of said rail anchor clip overlying said plate and having downwardly extending arms embracing the arms of said anchor clip, interengaging means on the arms of said anchor clip and the arms of said tape clip adapted to retain said clips in assembled position and a ladder tape having its ends overlying the arms of said tape clip and snubbed around the free ends thereof and clamped between the arms of the rail anchor clip and the tape clip, one of said clips having thereon centrally located, vertically disposed means positioned and adapted to engage the bottom slat of the slat system between its edges when the slats are tilted to closed position, adapted to force the bottom slat to a more nearly closed position` than theposition of the bottom rail to minimize light leakage.

9. In a Venetian blind having a slat system comprising slats, ladder tapes and a bottom rail, the combination of a bottom rail, a rail anchor clip for said bottom rail having extending downwardly therefrom, rail embracing arms for gripping and retaining a rail in said Iclip and a tape clip having downwardly extending arms embracing the arms of said anchor clip, interengaging means on the arms of said anchor clip and the arms of said tape clip adapted to retain said clips in assembled position and a ladder tape having its ends clamped between the arms of the rail anchor clip and the tape clip, one of said clips having thereon centrally located, vertically disposed means positioned and adapted to engage the bottom slat of the slat system between its edges when the slats are tilted to closed position, adapted to force the bottom slat to a more nearly closed position than the position of the bottom rail to minimize light leakage.

l0. In a Venetian blind having a slat system comprising slats, ladder tapes and a bottom rail, the combination of a bottom rail, a rail anchor clip for said bottom rail comprising a central plate of a length equal to the width of said bottom rail overlying said rail, said plate having extending downwardly therefrom, rail embracing arms for gripping and retaining a rail in said clip and a tape clip comprising a central body substantially co-extensive in length with the plate of said rail anchor clip overlying said plate and having downwardly extending arms embracing the arms of said anchor clip, interengaging means on the arms of said anchor clip and the arms of said tape clip adapted to retain said clips in assembled lposition and a ladder tape having its ends overlying the arms of said tape clip and snubbed around the free ends thereof and clamped between the arms'of the rail anchor clip and the tape clip.

l1. In a Venetian blind having a slat system comprising slats, ladder tapes and a bottom rail, the combination of af bottom'rail, arail anchor clip for said bottom-rail,l havingextendingdownwardly therefrom, rail embracing arms for gripping and retaining a rail in said clip and a tape clip, havingl downwardly extending arms embracing the arms yof said anchor clip, interengaging means on the armsV of' saidanchorclip and the arms of said tape clip adapted to retain said clips in assembled position and a ladder tape having itsends clamped between the arms of 'the -rail anchor clip and the tape clip.

12. -Infaf Venetian blind having a slat system comprising slats, ladder tapes and a bottom rail, the combination of al bottom rail, a rail anchor clip for said bottom rail, havingA extending downwardly therefrom, rail embracing arms forgripping andretaining a rail in said clip and a tape clip having downwardly extending arms embracing the arms of said anchor clip, interengaging means on the arms of said anchor clip and the arms of said tape clip adapted to retain said clipsin assembled position and a ladder tape having its ends clamped between the arms of the rail anchor clip and the tape clip, said bottom rail clip having a central lift cord passage having notches in opposite sides thereof, to receive a compound lift cord pulley housing and a compound lift cord pulley housing comprising sheet metalbent to form a base and sides extending upwardly therefrom, adapted to abut the down surface of said bottom rail clip and having upwardly projecting hooks having shanks adapted to fit in the notches in said lift cord passage with the hooks overlying the bottom rail clip and' anchoring' said pulley housing in place, said'tape clip also having a central lift cord passage.

References Cited in :thel le ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTSl 

